import archive.pst file in Outlook 2003

[Guest]

I am using Outlook 2003 on XP Home SP2 and the Outlook 2003 is the original
Outlook program I have run on this computer (as I noticed several issues
relating to the .pst files relate to trying to import older file versions
into 2003 but this is not the case here).

I have auto archive set up to run every 14 days and several times I have
been asked to authorize the backup to the following location C:\Documents and
Settings\craig\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst


I have tried to import the archive.pst file, but I keep getting an error
message stating that the file is not a personal files folder. I have tried
the same sequence to import the personal file folder outlook.pst file and it
would allow that (although I did not complete the process as I did nto want
to duplicate the data already in my outlook in box).

Also, the archive.pst file is only 265K which leads me to believe that my
archives are not happening properly. On the other hand, my personal file
folder outlook.pst (C:\Documents and Settings\craig\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst) is 246 MB.

I have tried to look through the Outlook Support FAQ and the user forums and
can not find anything relating to this and I even tried to run the Inbox
Repair Tool on the archive.pst file which also indicated that the file was
not recognized as a Peronal File Folder. Please Help.

Thank you - Craig

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

There is never any reason to import PST files and a lot of reasons not to.
Your archive file will contain only what you've put there, either directly
or through your autoarchive settings. Only you would know that, not we. What
does it contain that you need to retrieve?
To see what in contains, just open it in Outlook. File > Open > Outlook Data
File.

 

[Guest]

Russ,

I am trying to access older e-mails (past 90-days) that I have set up to be
archived with the auto-archive settings. I tried your idea of doing
file-open-outlook data file on the archive.pst file and it gave me the same
error message I got when trying to import the file, that it is not a Personal
File Folder.

I do not care what route I do to achieve being able to access my older
e-mails (open file, import, etc.), but I do need to get access to them so I
can find some very import messages for business/legal purposes.

Also, the other weird thing I mentioned is the small file size of the
archive.pst file is only 265K despite me backing it up to there via the auto
archive settings on a routine basis.

Please help.

Craig

There is never any reason to import PST files and a lot of reasons not to.
Your archive file will contain only what you've put there, either directly
or through your autoarchive settings. Only you would know that, not we. What
does it contain that you need to retrieve?
To see what in contains, just open it in Outlook. File > Open > Outlook Data
File.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I am using Outlook 2003 on XP Home SP2 and the Outlook 2003 is the original
Outlook program I have run on this computer (as I noticed several issues
relating to the .pst files relate to trying to import older file versions
into 2003 but this is not the case here).

I have auto archive set up to run every 14 days and several times I have
been asked to authorize the backup to the following location C:\Documents
and
Settings\craig\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst


I have tried to import the archive.pst file, but I keep getting an error
message stating that the file is not a personal files folder. I have
tried
the same sequence to import the personal file folder outlook.pst file and
it
would allow that (although I did not complete the process as I did nto
want
to duplicate the data already in my outlook in box).

Also, the archive.pst file is only 265K which leads me to believe that my
archives are not happening properly. On the other hand, my personal file
folder outlook.pst (C:\Documents and Settings\craig\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst) is 246 MB.

I have tried to look through the Outlook Support FAQ and the user forums
and
can not find anything relating to this and I even tried to run the Inbox
Repair Tool on the archive.pst file which also indicated that the file was
not recognized as a Peronal File Folder. Please Help.

Thank you - Craig

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Any idea how this file was created or how it might have gotten corrupted?
Have you tried running the Inbox Repair Tool on it to check for errors?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

I am trying to access older e-mails (past 90-days) that I have set up to
be
archived with the auto-archive settings. I tried your idea of doing
file-open-outlook data file on the archive.pst file and it gave me the
same
error message I got when trying to import the file, that it is not a
Personal
File Folder.

I do not care what route I do to achieve being able to access my older
e-mails (open file, import, etc.), but I do need to get access to them so
I
can find some very import messages for business/legal purposes.

Also, the other weird thing I mentioned is the small file size of the
archive.pst file is only 265K despite me backing it up to there via the
auto
archive settings on a routine basis.

Please help.

Craig

There is never any reason to import PST files and a lot of reasons not
to.
Your archive file will contain only what you've put there, either
directly
or through your autoarchive settings. Only you would know that, not we.
What
does it contain that you need to retrieve?
To see what in contains, just open it in Outlook. File > Open > Outlook
Data
File.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I am using Outlook 2003 on XP Home SP2 and the Outlook 2003 is the
original
Outlook program I have run on this computer (as I noticed several
issues
relating to the .pst files relate to trying to import older file
versions
into 2003 but this is not the case here).

I have auto archive set up to run every 14 days and several times I
have
been asked to authorize the backup to the following location
C:\Documents
and
Settings\craig\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst


I have tried to import the archive.pst file, but I keep getting an
error
message stating that the file is not a personal files folder. I have
tried
the same sequence to import the personal file folder outlook.pst file
and
it
would allow that (although I did not complete the process as I did nto
want
to duplicate the data already in my outlook in box).

Also, the archive.pst file is only 265K which leads me to believe that
my
archives are not happening properly. On the other hand, my personal
file
folder outlook.pst (C:\Documents and Settings\craig\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst) is 246 MB.

I have tried to look through the Outlook Support FAQ and the user
forums
and
can not find anything relating to this and I even tried to run the
Inbox
Repair Tool on the archive.pst file which also indicated that the file
was
not recognized as a Peronal File Folder. Please Help.

Thank you - Craig

 

[Guest]

I created the file via the usual archive process in outlook, so I have no
idea how it has gotten corrupted and yes I have tried to run the Inbox Repair
and it gave me the identical error message that every other process has
"archive.pst is not recognized as a personal file folder". So it won't
allow me to fix it.

So I guess I have 2 questions:
1. How do I get rid of the corrupt file properly so that the auto archive
will start writing to the right place (simply delete and then recreate? and
if so what is the best way to create that file?)
2. Is there any other way to recover the data in that fiel?

thank you again for all your help.

Criag

Any idea how this file was created or how it might have gotten corrupted?
Have you tried running the Inbox Repair Tool on it to check for errors?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

I am trying to access older e-mails (past 90-days) that I have set up to
be
archived with the auto-archive settings. I tried your idea of doing
file-open-outlook data file on the archive.pst file and it gave me the
same
error message I got when trying to import the file, that it is not a
Personal
File Folder.

I do not care what route I do to achieve being able to access my older
e-mails (open file, import, etc.), but I do need to get access to them so
I
can find some very import messages for business/legal purposes.

Also, the other weird thing I mentioned is the small file size of the
archive.pst file is only 265K despite me backing it up to there via the
auto
archive settings on a routine basis.

Please help.

Craig

There is never any reason to import PST files and a lot of reasons not
to.
Your archive file will contain only what you've put there, either
directly
or through your autoarchive settings. Only you would know that, not we.
What
does it contain that you need to retrieve?
To see what in contains, just open it in Outlook. File > Open > Outlook
Data
File.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I am using Outlook 2003 on XP Home SP2 and the Outlook 2003 is the
original
Outlook program I have run on this computer (as I noticed several
issues
relating to the .pst files relate to trying to import older file
versions
into 2003 but this is not the case here).

I have auto archive set up to run every 14 days and several times I
have
been asked to authorize the backup to the following location
C:\Documents
and
Settings\craig\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst


I have tried to import the archive.pst file, but I keep getting an
error
message stating that the file is not a personal files folder. I have
tried
the same sequence to import the personal file folder outlook.pst file
and
it
would allow that (although I did not complete the process as I did nto
want
to duplicate the data already in my outlook in box).

Also, the archive.pst file is only 265K which leads me to believe that
my
archives are not happening properly. On the other hand, my personal
file
folder outlook.pst (C:\Documents and Settings\craig\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst) is 246 MB.

I have tried to look through the Outlook Support FAQ and the user
forums
and
can not find anything relating to this and I even tried to run the
Inbox
Repair Tool on the archive.pst file which also indicated that the file
was
not recognized as a Peronal File Folder. Please Help.

Thank you - Craig

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Are you certain you are actually opening the file to which you are
archiving? Look at your autoarchive settings to make sure.
Also, when you try to access or repair this file, are you certain Outlook is
completely closed? Be aware that many processes will keep Outlook open even
after you exit.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I created the file via the usual archive process in outlook, so I have no
idea how it has gotten corrupted and yes I have tried to run the Inbox
Repair
and it gave me the identical error message that every other process has
"archive.pst is not recognized as a personal file folder". So it won't
allow me to fix it.

So I guess I have 2 questions:
1. How do I get rid of the corrupt file properly so that the auto archive
will start writing to the right place (simply delete and then recreate?
and
if so what is the best way to create that file?)
2. Is there any other way to recover the data in that fiel?

thank you again for all your help.

Criag

Any idea how this file was created or how it might have gotten corrupted?
Have you tried running the Inbox Repair Tool on it to check for errors?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

I am trying to access older e-mails (past 90-days) that I have set up
to
be
archived with the auto-archive settings. I tried your idea of doing
file-open-outlook data file on the archive.pst file and it gave me the
same
error message I got when trying to import the file, that it is not a
Personal
File Folder.

I do not care what route I do to achieve being able to access my older
e-mails (open file, import, etc.), but I do need to get access to them
so
I
can find some very import messages for business/legal purposes.

Also, the other weird thing I mentioned is the small file size of the
archive.pst file is only 265K despite me backing it up to there via the
auto
archive settings on a routine basis.

Please help.

Craig

:

There is never any reason to import PST files and a lot of reasons not
to.
Your archive file will contain only what you've put there, either
directly
or through your autoarchive settings. Only you would know that, not
we.
What
does it contain that you need to retrieve?
To see what in contains, just open it in Outlook. File > Open >
Outlook
Data
File.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I am using Outlook 2003 on XP Home SP2 and the Outlook 2003 is the
original
Outlook program I have run on this computer (as I noticed several
issues
relating to the .pst files relate to trying to import older file
versions
into 2003 but this is not the case here).

I have auto archive set up to run every 14 days and several times I
have
been asked to authorize the backup to the following location
C:\Documents
and
Settings\craig\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst


I have tried to import the archive.pst file, but I keep getting an
error
message stating that the file is not a personal files folder. I
have
tried
the same sequence to import the personal file folder outlook.pst
file
and
it
would allow that (although I did not complete the process as I did
nto
want
to duplicate the data already in my outlook in box).

Also, the archive.pst file is only 265K which leads me to believe
that
my
archives are not happening properly. On the other hand, my personal
file
folder outlook.pst (C:\Documents and Settings\craig\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst) is 246 MB.

I have tried to look through the Outlook Support FAQ and the user
forums
and
can not find anything relating to this and I even tried to run the
Inbox
Repair Tool on the archive.pst file which also indicated that the
file
was
not recognized as a Peronal File Folder. Please Help.

Thank you - Craig